State to present Lake Memphremagog cleanup plans next week in Newport

NEWPORT — The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is holding a public meeting in Newport next week to present the Lake Memphremagog, Coaticook and Tomifobia Rivers Tactical Basin Plan, which outlines how the State will achieve new phosphorus pollution targets for the Memphremagog Watershed.

The meeting will take place on Tuesday, November 14, from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. at the East Side Restaurant.

The US Environmental Protection Agency recently approved the Lake Memphremagog phosphorus TMDL or Total Maximum Daily Load, which calls for a 29 percent reduction in phosphorus flowing off the land into the lake.

Too much phosphorus causes nuisance plant and algae growth and occasional cyanobacteria blooms that limit recreational use of the lake.

DEC collaborated with local and regional experts to develop the tactical basin plan, with public input throughout the process.

The plan outlines watershed-specific actions and projects that reduce phosphorus pollution from farms, roads, developed lands, and forests necessary to achieve the target.

“Whether you are a landowner, farmer, municipal official, developer, or logger, as Vermonters, we all have a responsibility to ensure a legacy of clean water for this and future generations,” says DEC Commissioner Emily Boedecker. “We are eager to begin implementing this plan, in close coordination with our local and regional partners that have been integral to its development.”